The Sacred Fire

by B.Z. Goldberg

[1930]

There is a huge amount of academic 19th century
literature relating to sacred sexuality.
However, there are not many books which cover this
subject matter for the general reader: this book is one of the few.
Goldberg approaches the culturally sensitive issue of the intersection
of religion and sex frankly and in some depth.

That said, this work has a few problems which need to be kept in mind while
reading it.
There is not much in the way of apparatus aside from a bibliography: not
even the Bible quotes are attributed.
Goldberg also invents a number of descriptive passages,
particularly in the second section.
While these go a long way towards dimensionalizing this material, they
include a number of purely speculative details which are not identified
as such.

Perhaps the best part of this book is the discussion of the evolution
of the attitude towards sexuality in Christianity.
Goldberg also describes a number of little-known curious cults such
as the Russian Skopzi, the mediaeval flagellants, and others.
Long out of print, but available used,
this book serves as a useful introduction to the subject and sheds light
on some little known corners of the subject of sacred sexuality.